Pneumatic-despatch apparatus.



PATENTBD MAY 7, 1901,

F. R. TAISEY. PNEUMATIC DESPATCH APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 14. 19H6.

PATBNTBD MAY?, 1907.

.1". R. TAISEY. BNEUMATIG DBSPATGH APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 14.1906.

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FRED R. TArsuY, or rNDIANAPoLis', INDIANA.

.PNEUMATlC-DESPTCH APPARATUS.

Speccaton of Letters Patent.

Yatented. May 7, 1907.

'Application med Jun@ 14.1906. Serial No. 321,607.

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Be it known that I, FRED R. TArsEY, of Indianapolis, county of Marion, and State of Indiana, have invented a certain new and useful PneumaticDespatch Apparatus; and Ido hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which like letters refer to like parts.

The object of this invention is to provide an improvement in pneumatic despatch apparatus of a type wherein a terminal is located at each end of the despatch tube and compressed air is introduced into each terminal, and at each terminal there is means for admitting the air for conveying a carrier through the despatch tube.

My invention relates to a novel means for controlling and regulating the admission of air into the terminals and also for closing the carrier openin s in the terminals; also means connected wit each terminal that is actuated by a carrier while being discharged for closing the despatch tube so the compressed air therein will operate a mechanism provided in connection with my invention for releasing the air-admitting mechanism and shutting off the air and also for exhausting the air from the tube and returning the parts to their normal condition. These and the other featuresof my invention will be understood from the accompanying drawings and the following descri tion and claims.

In the drawings igure 1 is a side elevation of my pneumatic despatch apparatus with the air supply tube broken away, and some tubes centrally broken away, as shown. Fig. 2 is a central vertical section through the lower terminal shown in Fig. 1 with the parts in normal unoperated position and some parts broken away, the different positions of the operating handle being shown by dotted lines. Fig. 3 is the same as the upper part of Fig. 2 with the parts in the exhaust position. Fig. 4 is a central vertical section of the upper'terminal with the parts in their normal and unoperated positions, the operated position being shown by dotted lines. Fig. 5 is a transverse section on the line5-5 of Fig. 4 in an unoperated position. Fig. 6 shows the major portion of the lower part of Fig. 4 with the parts of the terminal in position immediately after the discharge of a carrier from that terminal. Fig. 7 is the same with the 'and issues therefrom.

air valve in operated position. Fig. 8 is a central vertical section through the valve tube shown in Fig. 4 in the normal position. Fig. 9 is a view enlarged of the means shown in Fig. 3 for stopping the air valve in the exhaust position.

' In the device herein shown for the purpose of illustrating the nature of the invention, a compressed air tank 10 is supplied with air under pressure through a pipe 11 from some suitable air compression means. A lower terminal 12 is connected with said air tank by the pipe 13, and an upper terminal 14 is connected with said tank by a pipe 15. The two terminals are connected by a despatch tube 16 through which carriers are conveyed pneumatically. A discharge chute 17 is connected with the lower terminal 12, and a discharge chute 18 is connected with the upper terminal 14. A carrier in this mechanism may be moved in either direction through the tube 16.

The lower terminal 12 has a casing substantially as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, int which the tube 13 screws at the upper end and from the lower end of which the chute 17 extends. The chute 17 is in line with the tube 16 for the passage of a carrierthrough said terminal. On one side the wall ofthe terminal is inclined at an angle of about 45O from a horizontal line and provided with an opening 2() through which a carrier may be inserted or discharged, and in the latter case it is guided to the chute 17 by the skeleton wall 21 of the casing. A director 22 pivotally mounted in said terminal deflects and guides the carrier as it enters said terminal The director is held in its normal position, as shown in Fig. 2, by a spring 23 on the outside of the casing shown by dotted lines. The director' 22 alsoholds the terminal valve 24 open normally in the position shown in Fig. 2. Said valve is adapted to close the opening 20 at times, as will hereafter appear.

The valve 24 is mounted loosely on shaft 25 in the terminal casing, and this shaft has an external actuating handle 26 and a downwardly extending `hnger 27 that, through the intervening spring 28, actsy against a looped arm 29, extending from the valve so that when said shaft 25 is actuated, the valve 24 may be yieldingly closed. The construction of this part of the mechanism is IOO the same in both the upper and lower terminals, excepting that they are inverted in the upper terminal.

A bracket 30 is loosely mounted on the shaft 25 and has two arms 31 in the nature of a yoke that extend beside the tubular air valve 32 and engage the pins 33. This bracket 30 has a crossbar 34 adapted to be engaged by the finger 27 secured to the shaft 25. This construction enables the handle 26 and shaft 25 to be moved somewhat from the right-hand dotted position ofthe handle in Fig. 2 to the middle dotted position in said figure before the finger 27 from theshaft 25 begins, through the parts 34, 30 and 31, to move the sliding air valve 32, and said valve 32 is moved during the subsequent actuation ofthe handle from the middle dotted line position in Fig. 2 to the left-hand dotted line position.

The compressed air inlet tube 13 leads and discharges into an enlarged tube 35- within the terminal that is provided with a number of ports 36, shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2. The air valve 32 has ports 37 that register with the ports 36 when said airvalve 32 is elevated from the position shown in Fig. 2 to a position a short distance above that shown inFig. 3and corresponding tol that shown in Fig. 7. When said ports so register' with each other, air rushes in from the tan-k 10 through the tubes 13 and 35 and said'ports into the terminal and up through the despatchy tube 16. The first part of the movement of the handle 26 and shaft 25 causes the terminal valve 24 to close the opening 20. The director 22 is a bar so that the air will pass readily by it when in the position shown inFig. 3. sgWhen'the air valve 32 is in its charging position, as shown in Fig. 7, an inclined lug 4() on the side thereof has passed the inclined end of thehorizontal catch bar 41 and is engaged by it so that said valve 32 will be held in its charging position until releasedv as hereafter explained. Then the compressed air passes from the tubes 13 and 35 into the terminal and on through the tube 16. The bar 41 extends horizontally through the casing and is pivoted outside thereof to a lever 42 fulcrumed at 43, which is actuated at its other endby a horizontally slidable bar 44 extending through a casing 45 in engagement with a vertical diaphragm 46 and held in engagement therewith by a spring 47. l A port 48 leads from the terminal into a chamber 49 lying to the left of said diaphragm 46 so that the back pressure of the air in the terminal, as hereafter explained, will force said diaphragm 46 to the right and consequently the bar 44 and lever 42 and latch 41 and will cause the latter to disengage the lug 40, whereupon the spring 38 will return the air valve 32 toits exhaust position.

The exhaust position of the valve 32 isv shown in Fig. 3. In that case the spring 38 has returned said valve 32 from its charging position, wherein the ports 36 and 37 register with each other, until stopped by the lug 6() engaging the end of the arm 29 from the valve 24 while the latter is being held closed by the air pressure in the terminal. The tube 35 is provided with an exhaust port 61, and the valve 32 with an exhaust port 62, that register when the valve 32 is stopped in the exhaust position shown in Fig. 3. At that time the air from the tube 16 and the terminalescapes, which releases the valve 24, and that permits the air valve 32 to be returned to its normal position in Fig. 2 by the spring 38. The arm 29 has a knuckle at 64, which enables the lug 60 to pass said arm as the valve 32 moves to the charging position. The arrangement of the mechanism in the two terminals will be clear when it is understood that Figs. 2 and 3 illustrate the lower one and Figs. 4 to 8 the upper terminal, the structures in the two being merely inverted with relation to each other, so that any part which is shown in one of said terminals, it will be understood, is similar in the other excepting that it is inverted. Each tube 35 has a perforated head 50.

The discharge chute 17 is provided with a trip 51 that projects into said chute and is lpivoted thereto between its ends at 52, and

the short arm is connected 'with a rod 53 which at its upper end is pivotally connected 'with alever 54 fulcrumedv at 55 so that the other end of said lever willengage an arm 56 on the outer end of theshaft 25 the same as is shown in Fig. 5 for the upper terminal. A similar but somewhat modified construction is provided for the upper terminal, there the trip 57 being fulcrumed at its end on the pin 58 and being'pivotally connected between its ends with the connecting rod -59 which runs downloosely through the tube 160, and at its lower end is pivotally connected with the lever 161 corresponding rwith the lever 54, and which is fulcrumed between its ends at 55 so that its actuating end engages the arm 56 on the shaft 25. The effect of this construction is that when a carrier discharges through chute 17 or 18, it will engage one of said tripsA and through the intervening mechanism throw the valve 24 in the adjacent terminal shut, thereby closing the opening 20.

Assuming the parts to be in their normal position, a carrier is introduced into the lower terminal through the opening 20, and the valve 24 and director 22 will then be held out of the way by a spring, as heretofore explained. As soon as this is done, the lever' 26 should be moved from the right-handl dotted position, shown in Fig. 2, to the left,

which closes the valve 24 and moves the di-` rector 22 to the position shown in Fig. 3 and in behind the carrier just inserted. The valve 24 will be closed when the lever 'reaches IOO Fig. 2.

the middle dotted line position shown in When the lever Lreaches the ex treme left-hand position shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2, the valve 32 will be elevated to its limit or charging position, so that the ports 36 and 37 will register and the lug 40 will be caught on the latch 41. Then the compressed air rushes through tubes 13 and 35 into the terminal and through the tube 16, propelling the carrier, and the air escapes through the outlet opening 2O at the upper end.

Vhen the carrier is discharged from the upper terminal 14, it engages the trip 57 which, through the means heretofore described, closes the valve 24 in the upper terminal. The sudden pressure which then follows in the terminals and tubes 16 actuates the lever 42 connected with the lower terminal in the manner heretofore described, to release the valve 32 in the lower terminal, whereupon it returns to the exhaust position shown in Fig. 3. As soon as the air exhausts, the parts all assume their normal position.

When a carrier is introduced into the upper terminal, the same operation of the parts takes place in the upper terminal as has been described in the lower terminal and in the lower terminal as has been described'in the upper terminal, and the carrier discharges from the bottom terminal through the chute 17.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a pneumatic despatch apparatus, the combination with a despatch tube, a terminal at each end thereof, and means for supplying compressed air to each terminal, of a single means for controlling the admission of air and the exhaust.

2. In a pneumatic despatch apparatus, the combination with a despatch tube, a terminal in each end thereof, and means for supplying air to Aeach terminal, of an air valve provided with both air admission and exhaustports, and means for operating said valve.

3. In a pneumatic des atch apparatus, a despatch tube, a termina at each end thereof, a pidpe leading from a compressed air supply an entering each terminal and provided with ports within the terminal, a sliding tubular valve on said pipe with ports adapted to register with the orts in said pipe, and means for sliding sai valve-into position for said ports to register.

4. In a pneumatic des atch apparatus, a despatch tube, a termina at each end there of, a pipe leading from a compressed air supply an entering each terminal and provided with ports within the terminal, a sliding tubular valve on said pipe with ports adapted to register with the ports in said pipe, means for sliding said valve into position so that said ports will register, and a spring for moving said sliding valve so that said ports will not register.

5. In a pneumatic despatch apparatus, the combination with a despatch tube, a terminal at each end thereof, and means for supplying compressed air to each terminal, of an air valve provided with both air admission and exhaust ports, and means controlled by the air pressure in the despatch tube for hold ing said valve in its exhaust position.

6. In a pneumatic despatch apparatus, the

combination with a despatch tube, a terminal at each end thereof, and means for supplying compressed air to each terminal, of an air valve movable into air inlet and exhaust ositions, a terminal valve, and means actuated by the terminal valve while closed for holding the air valve in the exhaust position.

7. In a pneumatic despatch apparatus, the combination with a despatch tube, a terminal at each end thereof, and means for supplying compressed air to each terminal, of an air valve movable into air inlet and exhaust positions, a terminal valve` adapted to be held closed by air pressure in the despatch tube, and means actuated by said terminal valve while closed for holding the air valve in the exhaust position until the air pressure in the exhaust tube is relieved.

8. In a pneumatic despatch apparatus, a despatch tube, a terminal at each end thereof with an opening for the passage of a carrier, a pipe leading from a compressed air supply and entering said terminal and provided with a port therein, a sliding valve on said pipe for closing and opening said port, a terminal, valve for closing the carrier opening in each terminal, a shaft mounted in each terminal, means connected with said shaft for operating both valves to admit air and close the opening in the terminal, and means outside each terminal for actuating said shaft.

9. In a pneumatic despatch apparatus, a despatch tube, a terminal at each end thereof, a compressed air pipe entering a terminal and-provided with both air admission and exhaust ports, and a spring return sliding valve on said pipe for closing and opening said ports, a terminal valve adapted to be held closed by compressed air in said tube, a catch for engaging and holding said air valve in its exhaust position, said catch being controlled by said terminal valve when in a closed position.

10. In a pneumatic despatch apparatus, a despatch tube, a terminal at each end thereof, a compressed air pipe entering a terminal with an air admission port and an exhaust port therein, a tubular sliding air valve on said pipe provided with corresponding ports, pins projecting from opposite sides of said sliding air valve, a shaft mounted in the terminal, a yoke pivoted on said shaft partially surrounding said tubular air valve and adapted to engage said pins thereon, a terminal IIO valvemounted on said shaft and held closed by compressed air in said despatch tube, and means connected with said terminal valve for stopping said sliding air valve in its exhaust position.

11. In a pneumatic despatch apparatus, a despatch tube, a terminal at each end thereof, a compressed air pipe entering one terminal with an air admission port and an exhaust port therein, a partition in said pipe' between said admission and exhaust ports, a sliding valve on said pipe provided with an air admission port adapted to register with the corresponding portv in said air pipe, when the valve is -in one position and an exhaust port adapted to register with the exhaust in said pipe when the valve is in another position, the arrangement being such that when said valve is in the normal positionl both sorts of ports will be closed and means' controlled by the air pressure inthe despatch tube for holding the air valve in the air-ad mitting and exhaust positions.

12. In a pneumatic despatch apparatus, the combination with a despatch tube, a terminal at each end thereof, and means for supplying compressed air to such terminal, of an air valve, means for operating said valve, a

pressure in the despatch tube, and means on the air valve for opening the terminal valve after the exhaust position of the air 'valve hasl been reached.

14. In a` pneumatic despatch apparatus, a despatch tube, a terminal connected therewith, a terminal valve for closing the carrier opening therein, and means movable into position across the carrier passage-way as the terminal valve closes for preventing a carrier from lodging behind thecarrier valve whileit is closed.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto affixed my signature in the presence of the witnesses herein named.

FRED R. TAISEY. IVitnesses:

HELEN B. McCoRD, N. ALLEMONG.

CSO 

